Lip enhancement is a procedure you can use to get fuller, plumper lips. It makes use of dermal fillers injected into your lips, giving them volume, eliminating signs of aging, boosting collagen production, thus providing your lips long-term rejuvenation.
The dermal fillers are also called lip fillers.
What do lip fillers contain?
There are many types of lip fillers, but the most popular type is the one containing hyaluronic acid. This type of lip filler is often called hyaluronic acid fillers or Juvéderm XC.
Before now, collagen fillers were the norm in lip enhancement. They’re less often used now because safer and longer-lasting ones are now available, such as Juvéderm XC.
Juvéderm XC typically contains hyaluronic acid, water, and lidocaine.
The components work together, forming an injectable gel that potentially increases the size and volume of the lips. And what do you get? That pitch-perfect Angelina Jolie kind of lips.
To fully understand how lip enhancement works, you must first understand how exactly hyaluronic acid (HA) works.
How does hyaluronic acid work?
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a sugar derivative produced naturally in the body to hydrate eyes, joints, and skin.
Surprisingly, HA can bind to and retain water molecules a thousand times its weight. With such moisturizing capabilities, it’s no wonder it has won its grounds as the perfect filler compound.
Natural HA molecules spend less than 24 hours in the body, after which they’re broken down for newer ones to come. They’re just like bone cells, requiring constant renewal. As you age, natural hyaluronic acid production declines, and the skin loses that volume and hydration, allowing fine lines to develop.
How does hyaluronic acid work in the lips?
Unlike collagen and fat injections that are thicker and less malleable, hyaluronic acid as a lip filler enables you to control how much volume you add. This allows you to maintain your lips’ natural contours while making them fuller.
Lip fillers containing HA enhance the lips by:
- Correcting lip shape
- Improving lip texture
- Delivering customized sensual effects according to your beauty goals.
How do you prepare for lip enhancement?
It’s worthy of note that, like most other cosmetic procedures, you may or may not currently be in an appropriate position to receive lip enhancement. So before doing lip fillers by Dr. Mary Lynn Moran, you must schedule a consultation so she can access your lips. Dr. Moran will also ask you about your medical history to ascertain your health condition.
What to expect during a lip enhancement procedure
Your doctor will mark the treatment area and inject the right amount of HA lip fillers into the skin. They’ll then massage the area to distribute the substance evenly.
Although you’ll likely experience a tingling sensation soon after, it wears off after a while.
What to expect after the lip enhancement procedure
After lip enhancement, some patients experience swelling and lumps for a few days, but they’re typically mild and disappear on their own. It’s just the gel settling into position. You may also find it difficult to smile comfortably.
But most importantly, avoid excessive sun exposure during the days following your lip enhancement. Avoid applying pressure on the injected area so that you don’t disturb the gel as it gets absorbed into your body.
How long do lip fillers last?
HA lip fillers last over six months, after which you may go for another dose.
Overall beauty is something every woman craves, and technology has made it achievable. So if you have lips you don’t really love or want to up your sex appeal, lip enhancement is a safe way to go.
